Detachable tween deck construction



Nov. 5, 1963 N. B. D. BLOMBERG ETAL 3,109,402

DETACHABLE TWEEN DECK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 1'7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS j NILS BENGT DOUGLAS BLOMIBERG SVEN SUNE HEDLUND "2W ATTORNEYSNov. 5, 1963 N. B. D. BLOMBERG ETAL 3,109,402

DETACHABLE TWEEN DECK CONSTRUCTION I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17,1962 FIG. 2

INVENTORS NILS BENGT DQUGLAS BLOHBERG SVEN SUNE HEDLUND BY @441 14% E$44 w; ATTORNEY United States Patent DETACHABLE TWEEN DECK CQNSTRUCTEQNNils Bengt Douglas Blomherg and Sven Sune Hedluud,

Landskrona, Elwcden, assignors to Oresundsvarvet AB,

Landskrona, fiweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed .lan. 17, 1962, Ser.No. 166,777 Claims priority, application Sweden Feb. 1, 1961 4 Claims({Il. 1l476) In ships there can on many occasions appear differentdemands concerning the possibilities for stowing the cargo. On certainoccasions a large cargo hold is desired for shipping bulk cargo, whereason other occasions it will be more suitable to have the hold divided bytween decks for shipping general cargo of different kinds. Many times aship will have one type of cargo during the outward trip and anothertype of cargo during the return trip, and this will bring about greatdemands on the possibilities for dividing the cargo hold. Particularlyin connection with the transport of motorcars it has been proposeddifferent detachable tween deck constructions, comprising a number ofsupporting beams and platforms resting on said beams. Theseconstructions require, however, rather much time for the erecting andremoving, and they take up useful space.

The present invention relates to a tween deck construction, whichpermits the removal to be done with a minimum of work, and where thedetached parts require a small space and automatically are brought to aspace of small value for stowing the ordinary cargo. The invention ismainly characterized by that each supporting beam comprises two portionshingedly connected to each other, one of which is pivotally connected toa vertical wall construction (side plating or bulkhead) whereas thesecond is carried by a stanchion swingably connected to the superimposedordinary deck. The parts are so dimensioned, that the first mentionedsupporting beam portion in connection with the removing of the tweendeck can be raised vertically along the wall, thereby bringing thesecond beam portion together with the stanchion up below thesuperimposed deck. Supporting beams are suitably arranged in two series,one along each of the side platings, extending therefrom approximatelyto the part corresponding to the hatch opening in the superimposed deck.The stanchions may then be hung up in the reinforced constructionforming part of the coaming therein. The platforms are suitably in amanner knewn per se, designed as accordionwise folding sectionsconnected to each other and provided with wheels or similar members,which allow an easy laying and removing, respectively.

In the annexed drawings one embodiment of the invention is shown by wayof example as applied to an additional tween deck for a ship, and whichis preferably adapted for shipping motorcars on certain occasions.

FIGURE 1 shows schematically and in perspective a part of the tween deckduring the laying out procedure;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section through a part of the ship showing anordinary deck and a portion of the additional tween deck installed;

FIGURE 3 shows one phase during the removing;

FTGURE 4 finally the parts of the tween deck in a wholly stowedposition; and,

FIGURE 5 is a cross section through the ship showing still another viewof the tween deck construction.

In FIGURE 1, which shows a corner of a hatch hold, the side plating ofthe ship is denoted by l and a transversal bulkhead by 2. Numeral 3designates an ordinary deck, which in this case is a fixed tween deck. Anumber of parallel supporting beams are arranged in connection with bothside platings, each beam comprising a first nected with one another bymeans of a hinge '7. This is fitted to the lower edge of the portions insuch a manner that these in working position are prevented from movingpast the horizontal line. In connection with the joint there isfurthermore a retaining member 8, which adds to this effect. The firstportion 5 is connected to the side plating by a hinge 9, which is fittedto a bracket 10 projecting from the side plating as much as correspondsto the measure of the platforms ll when folded together. The hinge is inthis case arranged at the upper surface of the beam in order to obtainan effect similar to that mentioned above concerning the workingposition. The second portion 6 is carried by a stanchion 12, which isswingably connected to the hatch coaming of the superimposed deck aswell as to the supporting beam portion. The total length of bothsupporting beam portions and the bracket mainly corresponds to thedistance from the side plating to the hatch opening. The supporting beamportions 6 are at their outer ends 14 shaped to receive a hatch beam 15,which is laid down by means of a cargo winch or the like. In this mannera supporting beam construction is obtained, which extends transverselyacross the ship, and the additional tween deck will thus cover the wholehold area. The platforms ill forming the real deck are, in a mannerknown per se, accordionwise connected to each other by hinges 16 and areprovided with Wheels in order to permit an easy laying and removing,respectively. The wheels run on tracks arranged in the sides of thesupporting beams. The platforms are operated by a wire 17 actuated bythe aid of a winch device 18, arranged in the space above the ordinarytween deck 3.

As the platforms will cover the space also beneath the hatch opening inthe superimposed deck it will be possible to handle special cargo, forinstance heavy pieces of machinery or big containers, which are hard tomove sideways within the ship by ordinary means. The platforms from oneside of the ship are moved outwards to cover the space below the hatchopening and the pieces of special cargo are lowered down on them.Thereafter the platforms are moved sidewise and the cargo is stowed inthe side part of the ship without much trouble.

The bracket Jill is located at a point below the ordinary tween deckwhich suits the cargo mainly shipped, and the length of the firstsupporting beam portion 5 corresponds essentially to the measure betweenthe bracket It'll and said deck. The lengtn of the second portion andthe stanchion 12, respectively, are so choosen that lastmentioned parts,when the portion 5 is brought to vertical position, will be moved upbelow the ordinary deck. This will be performed by means of a secondpulling wire 19 actuated by a second winch device 29, in the upper tweendeck space. The whole additional tween deck will now be stowed in theouter upper corner of the hold, which usually is very difficult to reachfor stowing and in this place it is of no disadvantage. The supportingbeam portions do not need to be untixed from each other or from thebracket and stanchion, respectively. The whole arrangernent can be of asimple but strong construction, as it is not necessary to pay anyattention to the disconnection of joints and the securing of separatemembers.

The details of the arrangement can, of course, be varied in many wayswithin the scope of the appending claims. The platforms may consist ofseparate units, which however ought to be stowed on the brackets 10. Thesupporting beams may also be connected for instance to a transversebulkhead or some other vertical wall construction.

What we claim is:

1. In a ship having at least one ordinary fixed deck provided with ahatch opening and forming the upper boundary of a hatch hold defined bylongitudinal and transverse mainly vertical walls,

a detachable tween deck in said hold composed of parallel supportingbeams and removable platforms carried thereby said supporting beamscomprising first and second portions hingedly connected to each otherpivots adjacent two opposite vertical walls for the outer ends of twojuxtaposed first beam portions arranged at a distance below the fixeddeck correspond ing to the length of said first beam portions stanchionsswingably connected to the hatch coaming of said ordinary deck and tothe inner ends of the corresponding second beam portions, respectively,

and means comprising a pulling member between said supporting beams anda winch device above said fixed deck for raising the first beam portionvertically along said two opposite vertical walls and bringing thesecond beam portion together with the stanchion up below said fixeddeck.

2. A detachable tween deck construction according to claim 1 in whichthe inner ends of the two meeting beams are designed to receive the endsof a common hatch beam,

and hatch beams to bridge the gap between said inner ends.

3. In a ship having at least one ordinary fixed deck provided with ahatch opening and forming the upper boundary of a hatch hold defined bylongitudinal and transverse mainly vertical walls,

a detachable tween deck in said hold composed of parallel supportingbeams and removable platforms carried thereby,

said supporting beams comprising first and second portions hingedlyconnected to each other,

pivots on brackets fitted to opposite vertical walls for the outer endsof two juxtaposed first beam portions arranged at a distance below thefixed deck corresponding to the length of said first beam portions,

said bracket having suificient length to act as a stowing place for thepertaining platforms,

a stanchion swingably connected to said ordinary'deck and to the innerend of the second beam portion, respectively,

and means comprising a pulling member between said supporting beam and awinch device above said fixed deck for raising the first beam portionvertically along said wall and bringing the second beam portion togetherwith the stanchion up below said fixed deck.

4. In a ship having at least one ordinary fixed deck provided with ahatch opening and forming the upper boundzit a detachable tween deck insaid hold composed of parallel supporting beams and removable platformscarried thereby,

said supporting beams comprising first and second portions hingedlyconnected to each other, the inner ends of said second portions beingdesigned to receive and to cooperate With the ends of a common hatchbeam;

common hatch beams to bridge the gap between the inner ends of thehinged beam portions;

pivots on brackets at two opposite vertical walls for the outer ends of[two juxtaposed first beam portions arranged at a distance below thefixed deck corresponding to the length of said first beam portions,

said brackets having suificient length to act as a stowing place for thepertaining platforms;

a stanchion swingably connected to said ordinary deck and to the innerend of the second beam portion, respectively;

means for raising said first beam portions vertically along saidlongitudinal walls and to bring the second beam portions together withthe stanchions up below said fixed deck;

hinge means for the connection of a number of said platforms between twoparallel beam supports and reaching from the longitudinal walls towardsthe middle of the hold;

wheels on said platforms to facilitate a movement along tracks on thehinged beam portions and on the hatch beams; and

means for moving said connected platforms to a horizontal position onsaid supporting beams and therefrom to a stowed position on thebrackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,736,287 Kummerman Feb. 28, 1956 2,747,537 Kummerman May 29, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 25,964 Great Britain of 1905 947,859 Germany Aug. 23,1956 70,315 France Nov. 17, 1958 1,180,190 France Dec. 29, 19581,250,223 France Nov. 28, 1960

1. IN A SHIP HAVING AT LEAST ONE ORDINARY FIXED DECK PROVIDED WITH AHATCH OPENING AND FORMING THE UPPER BOUNDARY OF A HATCH HOLD DEFINED BYLONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE MAINLY VERTICAL WALLS, A DETACHABLE TWEENDECK IN SAID HOLD COMPOSED OF PARALLEL SUPPORTING BEAMS AND REMOVABLEPLATFORMS CARRIED THEREBY SAID SUPPORTING BEAMS COMPRISING FIRST ANDSECOND PORTIONS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER PIVOTS ADJACENT TWOOPPOSITE VERTICAL WALLS FOR THE OUTER ENDS OF TWO JUXTAPOSED FIRST BEAMPORTIONS ARRANGED AT A DISTANCE BELOW THE FIXED DECK CORRESPONDING TOTHE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST BEAM PORTIONS